Johnson's journey began with a decision to be a writer. As a literature major in college, she filled notebooks with poetry and prose, but her dream of creating music felt distant since she did not play a musical instrument. A pivotal moment was hearing Dar William’s first album 'The Honesty Room' - “It was a lightbulb moment”, she recalls. “It showed me what was possible.” Inspired, she began playing guitar and writing her first songs. Those early efforts revealed her potential and solidified her path.
‘Shake Where You’re Steady’ finds influence in the neo-soul grooves of Erykah Badu to the lyrical yearnings of Joni Mitchell and the introspective anthems of Bruce Hornsby. The music, produced by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Steve Dawson, blends smooth Americana with dreamy pop to make a sound that is beautiful to the ear and soul soothing.
Opening with the soft melodic sounds of ‘Greatest Abandon’ the listener is transported back to the sound of 1960’s Laurel Canyon which is then followed by the soul swing sound of the upbeat ‘Anything’. Other songs like ‘In the Meantime’ reflect on hard times, while others, like ‘Only Now’, mark the start of healing. While some songs are reflections and other subconscious premonitions, her song writing process mirrors her personal growth, a balance of instinct and revision, vulnerability and restraint.
Chrissy Johnson channels the turbulence of trauma and the triumph of resilience into songs that blend vulnerable lyrics with captivating melodies. Her work captures both the sting of loss and the warmth of hope, urging listeners to explore their own interior worlds with honesty and courage.
Highly recommended.